Committee views work at old Lehighton junior high

Businesses, programs renting space

more renovations planned.

February 25, 2003|By Sarah Fulton Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

The Lehighton Downtown Revitalization Committee gathered Monday for a tour of the reopened former junior high school on Third Street.

John Hanosek, borough manager and committee member, led the 10 members through the aging structure for a look at its new amenities and an assessment of needed renovations.

The brick school, built in 1916, closed in 1992 and reopened as business rental space last year. The preschool program, Carbon County Head Start, uses almost half of the refurbished classrooms of the first floor. Children also ride tricycles inside the auditorium during this time of year. A telephone polling business has moved into a large area of the second floor, and Girl Scouts meet once a week in a first-floor classroom.

Upstairs, Hanosek showed committee members rooms in the process of being renovated. One room will be transformed into a new office for the Lehighton Area Chamber of Commerce. Down the hall, state Rep. Keith McCall, D-Carbon, has claimed a large classroom that will be divided into three rooms; one each for his office, his secretary and a conference room. A bottle collecting company will move in across from him.

With grant assistance from the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, a Lehigh Carbon Community College technology center might also move in on the second floor. The center would offer technological training and assistance to small-business owners.

"There's some really great prospects coming together here," said Dale Freudenberger, National Heritage Corridor coordinator and committee organizer.

The Heritage Corridor helped Lehighton, a member of its Market Towns Initiative, apply for and receive a $40,500 grant last year to help cover costs of the building renovation. Hanosek said the borough plans to reapply this year.

Many of the rooms will retain their original hardwood floors and slate chalkboards, both of which will be restored throughout the school.

The borough will decide on heating and air-conditioning methods. Hanosek said officials are considering using a hot water system for more even heat dispersal than the hot air vents currently used.

"The nice thing about that is that it cuts back on the amount of energy," Hanosek said.

A generator will be installed for emergency use, not only for businesses, but for the welfare of the community in the event of a severe storm or natural disaster.

An elevator and ramp were recently installed to make the building handicap accessible. Hanosek said that portion of the project will cost the borough $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant money.

In other business, members serving on the Historic Preservation and Tourism Committee reported that the organization of a local historical society is moving ahead.

The group has met four times and plans to incorporate and apply for nonprofit status. After choosing a name, members would like to plan historical walking tours and celebrations.